AIJA’s 2025 Dispute-Resolution Summit in Abu Dhabi

According to information compiled by FEW.ae editor, the 4th Annual Litigation Conference / 15th Annual Arbitration Conference / Business Crime and Civil Fraud Seminar will take place from 15 to 17 October 2025 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Sessions will be held at the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, located in the Yas Bay Waterfront area on Yas Island.The conference programme indicates the initial registration and welcome reception will take place at Siddharta Lounge, which is also at The Pier on Yas Bay Waterfront.

The Hilton Yas Island offers a capacity of 2,439 m² of flexible event space on a single level, with multiple ballrooms, meeting rooms, and a 900 m² foyer area. The hotel features 545 guest rooms including 59 suites, along with high-end resort amenities such as spa, pools, fitness centre, and direct waterfront views.

One of the advantages of the venue is its proximity to major Yas Island attractions: the hotel is within walking distance or short drive of Etihad Arena, Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld, and Warner Bros. World. The adjacent Etihad Arena, built on the Yas Bay Waterfront district, is a modern multi-purpose indoor facility with a capacity of up to 18,000, designed by HOK.

For conference participants, special room rates have been negotiated at the Hilton Yas Island, and also at the DoubleTree by Hilton as an alternate option. Parking is available (self-parking free, valet for a charge) and participants are advised to book early due to limited availability.

Schedule & Format: What to Expect Each Day

The event begins on Wednesday, 15 October, with registrations opening at 16:30 at Siddharta Lounge, followed by a welcome reception from 17:00 to 19:00.

On Thursday, 16 October, the formal sessions run from early morning through midday and afternoon.Highlights include:

• 09:15–09:45: Keynote address
• 09:45–11:00: Session 1 — “Future proofing your disputes: does litigation or arbitration fare better …”
• 11:30–12:45: Session 2 — “The Rise of International Commercial Courts: Friend or Foe to Arbitration?”
• 14:00–15:15: Session 3 — “The Intersection of Fraud and Arbitration”
• 15:45–17:00: Session 4 — “Navigating Complexities: Coordinating Criminal and Civil Investigations in Global Disputes”
  In the evening, participants will travel by bus from the hotel lobby at 18:30 to Rixos Marina Abu Dhabi for dinner, with return buses scheduled at 22:30 to Hilton Yas Island.

On Friday, 17 October, the programme resumes with registration at 09:00, followed by:

• 09:30–10:30: Session 5 — “Evidentiary Challenges Part 1: Information Gathering and Sharing Between Criminal and Civil Cases”
• 10:30–11:00: Keynote by Jean Michel Moriniere
• 11:30–12:30: Session 6 — “Evidentiary Challenges Part 2: Production of Evidence in Cross-Border Disputes: Arbitration and Litigation”
  A lunch break follows, then at 16:00 there is an optional guided tour of Grand Mosque, Qasr Al Watan, and the Abu Dhabi market, with logistical transfers provided.In the evening, an optional dinner at Almayass restaurant on Maryah Island is available.

Organisers, Sponsors & Participants

This joint seminar is organized by the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA) via its three commissions: Litigation, International Arbitration, and Business Crime & Civil Fraud. The event’s title question—whether litigation or arbitration is the better choice in a globalized world, and how to handle fraud in parallel proceedings—is central to its theme.

The Organising Committee features:

• Omar Al Heloo (Hadef & Partners, UAE)
• Hana Al Khatib (Global Advocacy & Legal Counsel, UAE)
• Hari Krishna (Nimble Legal, UAE)
• Kajal Patel (Cooke, Young & Keidan LLP, UK)
• Lukas Rusch (Pestalozzi Attorneys at Law Ltd, Switzerland)
• Rosie Wild (Cooke, Young & Keidan LLP, UK)

Platinum, Elite, Gold, and Silver sponsors include names such as ADG Legal, Afridi & Angell, act AC Tischendorf, Global Advocacy & Legal Counsel, Bär & Karrer AG, Cohen & Gresser, MONFRINI BITTON KLEIN, NASSER, Nimble Legal, Windorfer Rode, and Fatima Abdulla Balfaqeeh Advocates. aija.org

Speakers are drawn from around the world. For instance, Session 1 includes:

• Moderator: Paulo Nasser (M Nasser Advocacia Estratégica, Brazil)
• Panelists: Anna Arslan (Poland), Stefan Holterman (Netherlands), Sara Khalil (Austria), Hannah Fry (UK), Alexander Georgiev (Bulgaria)

Other sessions include contributors such as Ahmed Ragab AlKotby, Sin Yee Ong, Fatima Balfaqeeh, Gabriel Ganot, Andreas Wehowsky, Joseph Tendler, Michelle Lindholm, Niels Vos, Diederik van Besouw, Sarah Grau, Ayman Merdas, among others.

Climate, Logistics & Travel Considerations

Mid-October in Abu Dhabi tends toward hot and dry conditions, though slightly milder than peak summer. The average high is about 36 °C, with lows around 22–24 °C. Rain is extremely unlikely, and the skies are typically clear for much of the day.Humidity averages moderately high levels, often making outdoor exposure feel warmer.

Because Yas Island lies close to Abu Dhabi International Airport (roughly 10 km from Hilton Yas Island) and with good road connectivity, access to the venue is relatively straightforward. Delegates coming from Dubai or other Emirates may choose to fly into Abu Dhabi or drive via the Sheikh Zayed Road and relevant highways. Traffic and distance should be factored, especially during morning or evening peaks.

With the venue’s proximity to Etihad Arena and Yas Bay Waterfront, some sessions or receptions may benefit from audiovisual infrastructure supported by arena-grade facilities nearby. The Etihad Arena itself is a state-of-the-art multipurpose indoor venue with advanced technical capabilities, though the conference is not formally stated to occur there.

A Convergence of Global Legal Minds

This AIJA gathering offers more than panels and presentations: it aims to bring together legal professionals, practitioners, scholars, arbitrators, and in-house counsel to debate real-world challenges at the intersection of litigation, arbitration, fraud, and regulatory investigations. Themes include cross-border enforcement, coordination of parallel proceedings, evidentiary complexity, the evolving role of international commercial courts, and the integrity of arbitration in fraud contexts.

Moderators and experts from multiple jurisdictions will foster dialogue across common law, civil law, and hybrid systems — fitting for a region at the crossroads of global commerce and legal innovation. With Abu Dhabi as host, the event underscores the UAE’s aspiration to be a regional legal hub, reinforcing its institutional infrastructure and strategic initiatives in dispute resolution.